NHL trade rumors: 3 teams who should trade for Nikita Zaitsev

According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to move on from defenseman Nikita Zaitsev. Here are three teams who should trade for him. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some salary cap issues. Not only do they have to sign Mitch Marner to a new deal, but Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson also need new ones as well. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Leafs are trying to create some cap space by trading defenseman Nikita Zaitsev.

To say Zaitsev had a suboptimal 2018-19 season is an understatement. He had a career-low points per game rate of 0.17, posting just 14 points in 81 games. Though Zaitsev topped his 13 points from the 2017-18 season, it’s worth noting he only played in 60 games that season.

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Furthermore, he saw his playing time cut, as he averaged a career-low 20:28 per game during the regular season and 18:57 per game in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The acquisition of Jake Muzzin cut into Zaitsev’s playing time.

The Maple Leafs signed him to a long-term extension after his rookie season in 2016-17. Zaitsev has five years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. Because current general manager Kyle Dubas didn’t sign him to the extension (that was Lou Lamoriello), he probably won’t hesitate to move on from him.

Moving him, however, could be difficult. Zaitsev’s no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, which means the Leafs have very little leverage to get much for him in a trade. Ideally, they’d probably like to take no meaningful salary back in a transaction.

That said, Zaitsev is just two years removed from being a productive defenseman. His skill set is one that teams covet and someone might be willing to take a chance on him. Let’s take a look at which teams should trade for Zaitsev.

3. Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators are going to need some outside help to reach the salary cap floor. For this reason, I’d expect them to look to add a bad contract or two in exchange for assets. If the Senators are going to adopt this strategy, Nikita Zaitsev is one of the better players they could target.

Ottawa needs warm bodies on their blueline who can fill in while their prospects marinate in the minors. Zaitsev is still a capable NHL defenseman who can gobble up playing time, as he’s averaged over 20 minutes of playing time per game.

He would make even more sense for them if the Senators decide to move on from Cody Ceci. But even if they don’t, Ottawa’s right-handed defensive depth is sketchy at best. Dylan DeMelo and Christian Jaros are improving, but neither seems ideal for a second pairing role. Zaitsev, however, could work in that scenario.

The best part about trading for him would be what they get back for him. Ottawa can expect to get a draft pick or two in exchange for taking on his contract. All the Senators will have to give up is either a filler prospect or a very low draft pick, essentially just to ensure they give something up in the trade.

Ottawa would be wise to call up the Maple Leafs and get the ball rolling. Their cap space, if used properly, will help them net some future assets. It’s also worth noting the Senators new head coach, D.J. Smith, used to coach Zaitsev back when he was an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs.

2. New Jersey Devils

Much like the Senators, the New Jersey Devils have a comical amount of cap space entering the offseason. Also, just like Ottawa, they have a desperate need for some right-handed defensemen. Zaitsev is someone they should target for several reasons.

The primary reason the Devils should target him is they’ll probably get something valuable for taking on his deal. Toronto has minimal leverage and can’t really ask teams to give up anything of value for Zaitsev. They’ll probably have to give up a third-round pick or a decent prospect in order to move his contract. The Devils should be all over this.

Secondly, this is probably more of an indictment on the Devils than anything else, but Zaitsev would actually be a decent fit. He could be their first or second pairing right-handed defenseman.

The Devils could bank on him bouncing back and then they might be able to move his contract. There’s also the chance a compliance buyout or two might become available after the next CBA negotiations (and inevitable lockout).

New Jersey’s not going to have cap concerns anytime soon. They’d be wise to call up Toronto about Zaitsev and see if they can make them an offer that would make it worth it for them to take on his contract. The Devils have had success taking advantage of teams needing cap space before. Remember that time they traded for Marcus Johansson? How about Kyle Palmieri?